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Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 148 reviews

This Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender salmon fillets baked in a buttery lemon garlic sauce. Perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner, it combines fresh lemon slices, garlic, and honey for a delightful balance of tangy and sweet flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Salmon and Garnish

  • 1.5 to 1.75 pounds skin-on salmon fillet
  • 1 lemon (sliced into thin rounds)
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley (optional for garnishing)

Butter Sauce

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons honey
  • 5 cloves garlic (finely pressed or minced)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Foil: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lay a sheet of foil on a baking sheet and place the salmon skin-side down on the foil, aligning along the longer side. Fold up the foil edges about 2 inches high to create a shallow tray that will hold the butter mixture.
  2. Add Lemon Slices: Nestle thin lemon slices evenly underneath the salmon fillet for infused citrus flavor.
  3. Melt Butter: In a microwave-safe bowl or glass measuring cup, melt the butter on high for about 1 minute until fully liquefied.
  4. Mix Sauce: Stir lemon juice, honey, and minced garlic into the melted butter. Pour about three-quarters of this mixture over the salmon, reserving the remainder for later.
  5. Season Salmon: Sprinkle kosher salt and black pepper evenly over the salmon to season.
  6. Seal Foil Packet: Seal the foil packet by adding another foil sheet on top if needed, pinching edges tight to enclose the salmon and sauce, ensuring as airtight a seal as possible to lock in flavors. For deeper flavor, let marinate for 10–15 minutes if time permits.
  7. Bake Salmon: Place the foil packet on a baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 17 minutes until salmon is cooked through.
  8. Expose Salmon: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully peel back or remove the top foil layer to expose the salmon, keeping the foil edges raised to hold liquids.
  9. Broil Setup: Switch the oven to high broil mode.
  10. Finish with Broil and Extra Butter: Spoon the reserved buttery lemon garlic sauce over the salmon if desired, then broil for 5 to 10 minutes until the salmon turns golden and slightly caramelized. Watch closely to avoid burning.
  11. Garnish and Serve: Optionally sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top for color and fresh flavor, then serve immediately for best taste.

Notes

  • Marinating the salmon in the butter mixture before baking enhances flavor but is optional.
  • If there’s already a lot of juice in the foil, you may skip adding the extra butter sauce before broiling to prevent leakage.
  • Use a thermometer to check for a safe internal salmon temperature of 145°F if unsure about doneness.
  • Fresh garlic adds robust flavor, but you can adjust quantity based on preference.
  • Foil packet cooking keeps salmon moist and infuses it with buttery lemon flavor without drying out.

Keywords: salmon, lemon garlic salmon, sheet pan salmon, baked salmon recipe, easy salmon dinner, healthy salmon

Find it online: https://ricoloranz.com/sheet-pan-lemon-garlic-butter-salmon-recipe/